U of M Gardening Information: What's wrong with my plant?

Spruce > Trunk or branches > Sap on trunk or branches

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Needles on one or more branches turn completely brown or purplish brown then fall off
Scattered dead branches occur throughout the tree, often starting on the lower branches and then spreading upward
Clear to white resin encrusted cankers on infected branches
Common on Colorado blue spruce, or very stressed spruces
More information on Cytospora canker...

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Pitch masses with frass (sawdust mixed with droppings) on trunk
Larger trees preferred, medium trees can also be attacked
Needles can yellow
Caterpillar has a light brown or yellowish-brown head and cream to greenish-yellow body

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Found in stands white spruce in northern Minnesota, particularly along the North Shore
Prefers larger trees, 12 inch diameter trees or larger
Needles discolor yellowish green to reddish brown
Reddish brown sawdust around exit holes and on the bark and on the ground
Pitch tubes develop around exit holes
Trees eventually die
Adult beetles are 1/4 inch long and black to reddish-brown; larvae are small, white legless grubs
More information on Spruce beetle...